BMW 730i — MOT pass rate & failures
2,361 MOT tests on the BMW 730i (1987–2021) give an 80.6% pass rate. That is 6.1 percentage points worse than the 13.4% fail rate across all BMW 7 Series versions, so the 730i is a weaker pick within the range. Failures concentrate in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, ball joint and washers — position lamp alone was recorded 93 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 730i fails 21.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 22.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.6 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 28.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.2% in 2021 to 19.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 49 | 77.5% | 22.4% |
| 1988 | 62 | 75.8% | 24.2% |
| 1989 | 105 | 86.7% | 13.3% |
| 1990 | 111 | 82.9% | 17.1% |
| 1991 | 95 | 73.7% | 26.3% |
| 1992 | 60 | 81.7% | 18.3% |
| 1993 | 96 | 79.2% | 20.8% |
| 1994 | 120 | 82.5% | 17.5% |
| 1995 | 212 | 76.4% | 23.6% |
| 1996 | 40 | 75.0% | 25.0% |
| 2003 | 231 | 80.1% | 19.9% |
| 2004 | 507 | 80.7% | 19.3% |
| 2005 | 168 | 78.0% | 22.0% |
| 2006 | 180 | 81.7% | 18.3% |
| 2007 | 92 | 78.3% | 21.7% |
| 2008 | 100 | 87.0% | 13.0% |
| 2009 | 40 | 82.5% | 17.5% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 258 |
| 2 | Suspension | 9.8% | 231 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.2% | 169 |
| 4 | Visibility | 5.4% | 128 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.4% | 103 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 93 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.2% | 76 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 58 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 93 |
| 2 | Ball joint | 92 |
| 3 | Washers | 86 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 77 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 75 |
| 6 | Ball joint dust cover | 73 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 28.2% | 667 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.2% | 641 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 26.9% | 635 |
| 4 | Tyres | 23.5% | 556 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.9% | 327 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 222 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 56 | 21.4% |
| 30-60k | 186 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 379 | 17.9% |
| 90-120k | 576 | 17.7% |
| 120-150k | 514 | 19.7% |
| 150k+ | 621 | 22.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 584 | 21.2% |
| 2022 | 561 | 21.2% |
| 2023 | 457 | 16.2% |
| 2024 | 392 | 18.1% |
| 2025 | 367 | 19.4% |
What to check before buying a BMW 730i
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Lighting & signalling (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (7.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How reliable is the BMW 730i at MOT time?
80.6% of the 2,361 BMW 730i MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.4% fail rate, worse than the 13.4% average across all 7 Series versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a BMW 730i?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.9% of tests, followed by suspension (9.8%).
Does the 730i get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.4% in the 0-30k band to 22.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,361 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.